Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Not a music entry this time, but sort of a "spoken word" one, by one of the most popular "models" of physique magazines of the mid-1950's and early 1960's, Jim Stryker. The very amateur "dialogue" (and delivery) was fairly suggestive, considering the times, and I think it was certainly intended for the listener to "read things into" what he says. Stryker was mostly known for photos of him in "Young Physique," "Demi-God," and Champion publications. One interview I've read with one of his photographers said Stryker was bisexual, and that he lost track of him in the 1970's, when Stryker had a wife and family. So, this was a six-minute talking "ad" for his modelling work, probably from the late 1950's...I've not pinned down the "date" for it yet.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Here's an unusual gay Christmas video I found on YouTube, by Memphis resident Wade Murphy. He has Twitter and Tumbler followers and puts out amusing videos on his YouTube channel. I think this one is quite good, he has a nice singing voice, and....well, the subject matter is quite different. The title is "(All I Want Is a) DILF for Christmas." Okay, I had to google to find out what a D.I.L.F. is...and it's a noble gift idea....:)

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Billy Banks (1908 - 1967) was an American jazz singer popular from the 1930's through the 1950's, though he is perhaps best known for the folks who at different times happened to be in his bands, like Red Allen, Tommy Dorsey, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, and more. It's also been reported that he dabbled in female impersonation. But the song that Really caught my attention was the one with man-on-man lyrics, "Oh Peter, You're So Nice," from 1932. Who could resist a guy singing to his, or someone else's peter..:)

Friday, November 16, 2012

Hey, Y'all....you know, there just are
Not enough lyrically gay country songs, so I've got to spread the word about
this one. Richard Hefner wrote and sings it, and it's called "Girls and
Boys," and not only do I think the song is terrific, and the video, but the
reason behind it is as well, with a portion of the proceeds to be
donated to organizations benefiting youth at risk. They even did a video behind
the video.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The title sums it up as succinctly as
I can, though I perhaps took some liberties saying "drag queen hustler." Hustlers who used to wear dresses describe it better. In the 1960's Rod McKuen was one of America's best selling poets, and
his LPs of poetry and songs sold millions. A 7-CD very deluxe box set was
released in 2006 called "If You Go Away: The RCA Years 1965 - 1968,"
and if you have around $200 it can be yours.

But I'm not hawking CDs, I'm writing
about one very unusual previously unreleased demo track the box set contained. It
was called "The Money Boys of Cannes" and was written
by McKuen, and he and Glen Yarborough recorded it, in 1966. It's been quite unusual for
McKuen to address in song the subject of being gay at all, not to mention those
gay hustler boys.

A friend sent me this track today, and
by a bit of serendipity I had just this week received a magazine I had
purchased with an article about that very same thing: "Les Boys of
Paris" with the subtitle "The Sodom of the Seine is the New Playland
of the Gay, Gay Set."

The article is quite biased, implying that the female impersonators of Madame Arthur's and Le Carrousel were hustlers instead of the professional entertainers they were, but that didn't make good copy in 1957.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Now, here's an inspiring &
innovative project, OutPostChoir. It's an online LGBTQ choir where folks from all
over, even where there are no choruses near them, can add their voices, taking
a pride through unity approach and really doing it, globally. Imagine the good
feeling participating in this could give an LGBTQ person "stranded"
far away from an actual community.

Above is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir performing the song "You Make Me Proud," and below see how the vision has evolved to include more and more choruses and individuals, a growing work of art. Click to View the Video.

Monday, November 12, 2012

"Haberdashery is electropop that incorporates
multi-layered cinematic sounds with pop sensibilities." Well, that's what
the website says and I think that sums it up perfectly. What is not immediately
obvious is that it's not a band, it's the work of one person, Chicago artist
and musician Stephen Pearlman. He writes, arranges and records all of his
music, and he's been quite prolific.

Since his debut release in 2004, he's
released five full albums, and over twenty singles...with the singles having
multiple mixes each. And I love the designs of his album covers, which have a
very distinctive style.

Here's the cover of his latest CD, "Tonight the Angels," and then a few videos: